Posted by S. Howard on October 31, 2000, at 21:20:13
In reply to Am I bipolar - difficulty getting diagnosis, posted by Kingfish on October 31, 2000, at 8:48:56
Diagnostic Criteria for the Major Mood Disorders*
MAJOR DEPRESSIVE EPISODE-
Characterized by at least 5 of the following symptoms, present every day or nearly every day,
during the same 2-week period:
1)Depressed or irritable
2)Diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities (apathy)
3)Significant weight loss or gain (not intentional), or decrease or increase in appetite
4)Insomnia or hypersomnia
5)Psychomotor agitation (restlessness) or lethargy
6)Fatigue or loss of energy
7)Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt
8)Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness
9)Recurrent thoughts of death or suicideMANIC EPISODE-
Characterized by at least 3 of the following symptoms present to a significant degree:
1)Abnormally and persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood
2)Inflated self-esteem or grandiosity
3)Decreased need for sleep
4)More talkative than usual
5)Feelings that "thoughts are racing"
6)Easily distracted
7)Increase in goal-directed activity, or agitation
8)Excessive involvement in pleasurable activities which may be harmful, i.e., buying sprees, sexual indiscretions, foolish business investmentsCYCLOTHYMIA
General-
1)Onset in teens or early adulthood
2)Clinical presentation as a personality disorder(patient often unaware of "moods")
3)Short cycles-usually days-recurrent in an irregular fashion, with infrequent euthymic periods
4)May not attain full depression or hypomania during one cycle, but all symptoms occur at various times
5)Endogenous mood changes, i.e., often wake up in a certain moodBiphasic Course-
1)Hypersomnia alternating with decreased need for sleep
2)Shaky self-esteem which alternates between lack of self-confidence and naive or grandiose overconfidence
3)Mental confusion and apathy, alternating with periods of sharpened and creative thinking
4)Marked unevenness in quantity and quality of productivity, often associated with unusual working hours
5)Uninhibited people-seeking (may lead to hypersexuality) alternating with introverted self-absorbtionBehavioral Manifestations-
1)Irritable-angry-explosive outbursts that alienate loved ones
2)Episodic promiscuity, repeated romantic failures
3)Frequent shift in line of work, study, interest, or future plans
4)Resort to alcohol and drug abuse as a means for self-treatment or augmenting excitement
5)Occasional financial extravagance***Copied in part from "Touched With Fire" by
Kay Redfield Jamison**My God, I just diagnosed myself!! -SGH
poster:S. Howard
thread:47817
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20001022/msgs/47869.html